A real-world business bootcamp designed to fast track fellows on the road to entrepreneurship.
Membership in the Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy provides fellows with:
41 years of success; the first entrepreneur program in Sacramento
A 15-week, team-based “real world” start-up business education taught by successful entrepreneurs
Take your idea from ideation, to market analysis, marketing, and financing to launch
Top-tier subject matter experts provide weekly presentations
Mentoring and support from local business, professionals, academic leaders, successful entrepreneurs, and the SEA Board members
A fundable business plan, financials, and formal presentation to the Sacramento area business community
Final critiqued presentation & Showcase
Evergreen expert access and mentoring
Networking opportunities to build your career / business
Low-risk way to try on entrepreneurism - perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs
Each year, SEA selects a group of high potential fellows to participate in a five-month entrepreneurship program. SEA seeks individuals who think outside the box and want to create business ventures at some point in their life. Fellows come from early stage start-ups in the Sacramento Business Community, Chambers of Commerce, Industry groups, business referrals, undergraduate and graduate students from schools including UC Davis, CSUS, Chico State, Univ. of the Pacific, Jessup, the Los Rios Colleges and Sierra College. In every class, there is a great diversity of background and ideas.
On Saturday mornings from January into May, Fellows receive nuts and bolts guidance about starting and running one’s own business—the good, the bad, and the ugly! Entrepreneurs who have been through the trenches share their personal experiences and lessons learned. Topics covered include marketing your business, equity division, obtaining financing, and legal advice.
Early in the program, fellows form small groups to develop a comprehensive business plan. Upon team formation, each team is assigned a dedicated mentor. Throughout the program, they receive advice from board members, alumni, and speakers to refine their plan and decks. The culmination of the year is a business plan presentation to approximately 200 Sacramento area business leaders.
SEA has graduated more than 800 fellows since its 1986 inception. Many alumni have started successful businesses and are now mentors to new students. The entrepreneurship support continues after graduation for alumni. Educational programs, networking opportunities, and social events are ongoing.
Seeking our Class of 2026 Entrepreneurs!
How to Apply
The Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy considers applications from working professionals, early stage entrepreneurs, and upper division or graduate students of local colleges, or students with the equivalent of two years of college, including junior colleges.
To assure that you are considered for membership in the academy, you must complete the application form completely. The information you provide on the form will be used as the first screen for membership. If your application indicates that you are a potential fellow, you will be invited to an interview with the academy staff. At the interview you will be interviewed by the administrator and one or more board members. Following the interview, you will be notified of your acceptance to the upcoming class.
Interviews will be scheduled upon application receipt, with rolling acceptance of candidates until all the spots are filled. Academy sessions will start in mid-January 2026 and conclude by mid-May 2026. Once you’ve completed the application, simply hit the submit button. Your application will be reviewed and you will be contacted within 7 business days. If you have any questions please feel free to contact sea@sealink.org.
Let US give YOU the tools to:
Distinguish yourself
Obtain hands-on business education.
Take the first step towards starting your OWN business.
Gain rare access to entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Leverage the SEA community.
Augment your degree.
Accelerate YOUR career.
Pursue your DREAMS.
View entrepreneurship business and leadership from EVERY angle!
Be part of an inviting environment and curriculum to catapult YOU into entrepreneurship success!
Cost
The cost for attending the 2026 SEA program is $1,500 per Fellow. We are currently offering scholarships of $750 for full-time students.
If a fellow enrolls as part of a team, then each fellow would receive a 25% discount on the amount listed above for each fellow. They must be part of the same team.
Curriculum
The main component of the SEA program is the Saturday session or “business meeting.” Business meetings are held for four hours on Saturday mornings; fruit, muffins and beverages are arranged by the fellows and paid for by the Academy. There are three deliverables in the program: Team Business Plan, Financials, and Presentation deck.
Teams develop and finish their deliverables, submit their plans to the board, and present their ideas at a formal Business Plan Presentation Session. See below for the curriculum and schedule. Lively fellow discussion and probing questions are encouraged!
2026 PROGRAM
All sessions take place Saturdays 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Cohort Social - Team Building
Teams, Board Members
Jan 10
The Entrepreneurial Journey
Mark Randall
Jan 17
Program Deliverables
Project and Team Development
Michael Freedman
Customer Research, part 1
Problem Identification and Validation
Christian Renaudin
Jan 24
Target Audience, Competitive Awareness
Christian Renaudin
Customer Research, part 2
Value Proposition, Customer Validation & MVP, Pricing
Christian Renaudin
Jan 31
Branding
Al Moffatt
Segments, Channels, Customer acquisition; Go To Market Plan
Ken Crittendon
Feb. 7
Promotion & Advertising
Al Moffatt
Business Checkpoint #1
Team Presentations: Marketing and Sales
Board and Mentors
Mentors Assigned
Feb 14
Business Plan Overview
Corley Phillips
Feb. 21
Budget Plan Workshop
Corley Phillips
Finance and Accounting Overview
Jennie Ly and Mang Feng
Feb. 28
Budget Development
Courtney McHarg
Financing Your Startup
Brooke Borseth
Mar. 7
Legal Structures, I.P.
Jon Ancona
Operations, Metrics, and Measures
Gabe Lewall
Mar. 14
Data Room and Operations Workshop
Gabe Lewall
Showcase Prep
Laurie Dakin
Business Checkpoint #2
Team Presentations: Financials and Operations
Teams, Board, Mentors
Mar. 28
Leadership/Management/Culture
TBD
Apr. 4
Team Building / Feedback
TBD
Art of the Pitch
Josh David Miller
April 11
Pitch Development Workshop
Josh David Miller
Deliverables Workshop
Teams, Mentors
April 18
Final Presentations Dry Run
Cohort, Mentors
Apr 25
Final Presentations
Cohort, Board, Mentors
May 2
Showcase
Cohort, BOD, Mentors, Community
Date TBD
Graduation
Cohort, BOD, Mentors
Date TBD
Distinguished Speakers
Mark Randall
Tina Shaw
Dr. Kris Lea
Dan Casas-Murray
Jennifer Teicheira
Chasteena Determan
Jon Ancona
Monty Montgomery
Corley Phillips
Christian Renaudin
Ken Crittendon
Robert Gregoire
Veronica Jacob
Mariah Lichtenstern
Leigh White
Bobbin Mulvaney
Chris Soderquist
John Walter
Courtney McHarg
Mike Rizzo
Monique Brown
Chris Chediak
Business Plan Competition
The fellow teams present their final business plans to a panel of judges (made up of members of the Academy Board and other experienced local entrepreneurs and venture capitalists). The weeks prior, the fellows are coached by Mentors and Alumni at a ‘dry run’ session to ensure any last minute ‘kinks’ are worked out.
The business plans are judged on the following criteria:
1. Written Presentation
Did the written plan clearly convey the idea/concept presented? Was it easy to read, internally consistent and complete? Organization, grammar, spelling and format of the plan are also assessed.
2. Oral Presentation
Did the oral presentation clearly convey the idea/concept presented in the written plan? Was it well prepared and organized? Was it exciting, provocative, and upbeat? Did the presenters display confidence and credibility? The visual aids, tempo and timing, response to questions and consistency with the written plan are also assessed.
3. Probability of funding
Did the oral and written presentation establish a reasonable basis to anticipate that the venture could generate or obtain the necessary initial capital for the venture? Has adequate allowance been made for additional capital requirements, after taking into account any expected cash flow from operations? The quality of the financial data, the stated use of proceeds and the exit strategy are also assessed, as well as whether potential risks are identified and strategies noted for addressing the risks?
4. Value of the Idea/concept
Does the product/service fill a need? Is there a real opportunity addressed? Does the concept show innovation or a better mousetrap?
5. Viability of the Plan
Is this a solid, well thought out plan for capturing the opportunity? Does the plan follow a logical path? Are the priorities correct? Does it make sense? Does the plan address all factors that may influence the successful launching of the business? Are the assumptions backed up with accurate and appropriate facts and materials?
Additionally, fellows compete (and cooperate) for:
Best in Showcase to the team that gives the most compelling presentation at the annual showcase. This is voted by the Showcase attendees.
Jim Corbett Teamwork Award to the highest performing team throughout the session. This award is voted by the fellows.